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David McK (3194 KP) rated Night Watch (Discworld, #29; City Watch, #6) in Books
Jan 28, 2019
2018 update: "Truth! Justice! Reasonably-priced love! And a hard-boiled egg!"
2016 update: Following (Sir) Terry Pratchett's death in 2015 to his 'Embuggerance', I recently came across a blog where the author of said blog was reading all of the Discworld books in order from the first to the last. One of the last entries in the said blog was when he rated the books, from his most to least favourite, and then asked his readers to do the same and later published those responses.
In both cases, 'Night Watch' - which, I think, was one of the last before Pratchett was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's - was in the top 10, so I decided to go back and re-read it ...
<original thoughts below>
One of Terry Pratchett's more recent Discworld novel, in which he makes use of the good old time-travel sci-fi trope to move Commander Sam Vimes of the City Watch back in time to an earlier portion of his life-time.
2016 update: Following (Sir) Terry Pratchett's death in 2015 to his 'Embuggerance', I recently came across a blog where the author of said blog was reading all of the Discworld books in order from the first to the last. One of the last entries in the said blog was when he rated the books, from his most to least favourite, and then asked his readers to do the same and later published those responses.
In both cases, 'Night Watch' - which, I think, was one of the last before Pratchett was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's - was in the top 10, so I decided to go back and re-read it ...
<original thoughts below>
One of Terry Pratchett's more recent Discworld novel, in which he makes use of the good old time-travel sci-fi trope to move Commander Sam Vimes of the City Watch back in time to an earlier portion of his life-time.
Britt Smith (36 KP) rated Galavant - Season 1 in TV
Mar 15, 2018
Cameos (1 more)
Satire
I Slept On The Horse
If you love fantasy/medieval stories, musicals, and satire then you need to see Galavant. For those who like authors like Terry Pratchett, I recommend this show whole-heartedly (can we also just appreciate our leading lady was in Color of Magic STP fans?). It's got some really great moments and amazingly fun cameos. Do yourself a favor and at least make it into episode two with John Stamos, (from which you'll understand the title).
In short, if you like to have fun you are going to love this show. It's about the only musical I can sit through and I hum songs from it/rewatch them constantly.
In short, if you like to have fun you are going to love this show. It's about the only musical I can sit through and I hum songs from it/rewatch them constantly.
David McK (3194 KP) rated Small Gods in Books
Jan 28, 2019
Graphic adaptation of on eof my favourite Discworld books, which is set eras before the 'main' Discworld stories themselves.
I have to be honest: I didn't even know there was this adapatation of the story until I came across it in a local bookstory: having read it, I think I prefer this over the only other graphical take on the stories I had encountered before ([b:The Discworld Graphic Novels: The Colour of Magic & The Light Fantastic|2728900|The Discworld Graphic Novels The Colour of Magic & The Light Fantastic|Terry Pratchett|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1348432296s/2728900.jpg|2754534]) in that the artwork seems more vibrant, more what I would imagine the characters to be like.
I have to be honest: I didn't even know there was this adapatation of the story until I came across it in a local bookstory: having read it, I think I prefer this over the only other graphical take on the stories I had encountered before ([b:The Discworld Graphic Novels: The Colour of Magic & The Light Fantastic|2728900|The Discworld Graphic Novels The Colour of Magic & The Light Fantastic|Terry Pratchett|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1348432296s/2728900.jpg|2754534]) in that the artwork seems more vibrant, more what I would imagine the characters to be like.
The Witch's Vacuum Cleaner: And Other Stories
7.0
Rate It
Book
Do you believe in magic? Can you imagine a war between wizards, a rebellious ant called 4179003, or...
Father Christmas's Fake Beard
Book
Have you ever wanted Christmas to be different? Turkey and carols, presents and crackers - they all...
children fiction
David McK (3194 KP) rated Interesting Times (Discworld, #17; Rincewind #5) in Books
Nov 7, 2021
Last seen in (I believe) <i><s>Mort</s>Eric</i>, Terry Pratchett returns to his original Discworld characters of Rincewind and TwoFlower (and Cohen the Barbarian). In this entry, Rincewind is 'rescued' by the Wizards of Unseen University - a University that has changed since he was last there - from his desert island, only to be sent to the Counterweight Continent, where war is brewing ...
For some reason, this is not one of the Discworld books I would return to all that often (never found the Rincewind stories to be amongst the most enjoyable), but still has plenty of laugh out loud moments, alongside some other shrewd observations about life in general.
For some reason, this is not one of the Discworld books I would return to all that often (never found the Rincewind stories to be amongst the most enjoyable), but still has plenty of laugh out loud moments, alongside some other shrewd observations about life in general.
Bethr1986 (305 KP) rated Only Ghouls and Horses in Books
Oct 6, 2022
Independent Reviewer for Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
This story tells the tale of poor Tom and how has been recruited by Unit 13, the bureau of a paranormal detective agency. He's been happy with his desk job, but when one of his colleagues goes on maternity leave, he's thrown into the field and he doesn't have a lot of experience.
This book was an absolute howl. It's a paranormal book with a lot of humour thrown in. I really enjoyed the take that Dan has taken on it and delivered. The style very much reminded me of Terry Pratchett. I'm looking forward to reading more.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
This story tells the tale of poor Tom and how has been recruited by Unit 13, the bureau of a paranormal detective agency. He's been happy with his desk job, but when one of his colleagues goes on maternity leave, he's thrown into the field and he doesn't have a lot of experience.
This book was an absolute howl. It's a paranormal book with a lot of humour thrown in. I really enjoyed the take that Dan has taken on it and delivered. The style very much reminded me of Terry Pratchett. I'm looking forward to reading more.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
David McK (3194 KP) rated The Four Feathers in Books
Jan 28, 2019
'Every man would be a coward where he but brave enough' is a quote that I thought came from this novel.
Turns out I was wrong on both counts - the actual quote is 'For all men would be cowards if they durst', and was actually written by John Wilmot, the Earl of Rochester in his poem "A Satyr against Reason and Mankind" roughly 2 centuries before the publication of this novel.
It's also a line that Mason, ad the others of his generation, would have had absolutely no understanding of and would (probably) have been vehemently against, as depicted in the events of this story.
This story starts on the eve of his regiment sailing off to fight in Sudan, when Harry Feversham resigns his commission, having just gotten engaged to his fiancee. When his 'friends' find out they send him three white feathers - the symbols of cowardice - which he receives in the company of that fiancee, who adds a fourth.
In a bid to retain his honour - valued above all else by the Colonial British of the time - Harry hatches a plan to go under-cover to Sudan, looking for opportunities to prove his bravery to those friends and (finally) his fiancee so they will take their feather back.
(Personally, I don't know why he didn't just do the same as Nobby Nobs in [a:Terry Pratchett|1654|Terry Pratchett|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1235562205p2/1654.jpg]'s [b:Jingo|47990|Jingo (Discworld, #21)|Terry Pratchett|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327921813s/47990.jpg|1128623], and save said feathers for a mattress ... )
The result is very much a book of its time, very much a 'boys-own' story of Harry and his daring escapades in the Sudan. It's also very much so a novel that needs read with that in mind: to modern minds, the entire premise might seem a little rickety (would someone really go to those extremes just to 'prove' their bravery?), but such was the mores of the day.
Turns out I was wrong on both counts - the actual quote is 'For all men would be cowards if they durst', and was actually written by John Wilmot, the Earl of Rochester in his poem "A Satyr against Reason and Mankind" roughly 2 centuries before the publication of this novel.
It's also a line that Mason, ad the others of his generation, would have had absolutely no understanding of and would (probably) have been vehemently against, as depicted in the events of this story.
This story starts on the eve of his regiment sailing off to fight in Sudan, when Harry Feversham resigns his commission, having just gotten engaged to his fiancee. When his 'friends' find out they send him three white feathers - the symbols of cowardice - which he receives in the company of that fiancee, who adds a fourth.
In a bid to retain his honour - valued above all else by the Colonial British of the time - Harry hatches a plan to go under-cover to Sudan, looking for opportunities to prove his bravery to those friends and (finally) his fiancee so they will take their feather back.
(Personally, I don't know why he didn't just do the same as Nobby Nobs in [a:Terry Pratchett|1654|Terry Pratchett|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1235562205p2/1654.jpg]'s [b:Jingo|47990|Jingo (Discworld, #21)|Terry Pratchett|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327921813s/47990.jpg|1128623], and save said feathers for a mattress ... )
The result is very much a book of its time, very much a 'boys-own' story of Harry and his daring escapades in the Sudan. It's also very much so a novel that needs read with that in mind: to modern minds, the entire premise might seem a little rickety (would someone really go to those extremes just to 'prove' their bravery?), but such was the mores of the day.
Sarah (7798 KP) rated Guards! Guards! Discworld Novel 8 in Books
Mar 19, 2018
A great introduction to the City Watch
You've got to hand it to Terry Pratchett, he knows how to write a good fantasy novel.
Guards! Guards! is yet another great Discworld novel, and the first to introduce Captain Vimes and the City Watch. Vimes himself is a loveable anti-hero who develops greatly over the course of the novel and the same too can be said for the other members of the Watch. Carrot the 'dwarf' provides a real introduction to the Watch and also a lot of the humour from his exploits, and I loved seeing a lot more of the Librarian.
The plot itself on the face of it is a fantasy fairy tale filled story of dragons, maidens and heroes. But with every Pratchett novel, beneath it lies dark wit and humour, and a slightly sad social commentary on human greed and corruption. There are a lot of references in this to other media, like The Hobbit, which really poke fun at the myths and lore used in the fantasy genre.
A great read with some very engaging characters. A little rambling at times, but fortunately the rest of the book makes up for it! Discworld books are the only books that can really make me laugh out loud.
Guards! Guards! is yet another great Discworld novel, and the first to introduce Captain Vimes and the City Watch. Vimes himself is a loveable anti-hero who develops greatly over the course of the novel and the same too can be said for the other members of the Watch. Carrot the 'dwarf' provides a real introduction to the Watch and also a lot of the humour from his exploits, and I loved seeing a lot more of the Librarian.
The plot itself on the face of it is a fantasy fairy tale filled story of dragons, maidens and heroes. But with every Pratchett novel, beneath it lies dark wit and humour, and a slightly sad social commentary on human greed and corruption. There are a lot of references in this to other media, like The Hobbit, which really poke fun at the myths and lore used in the fantasy genre.
A great read with some very engaging characters. A little rambling at times, but fortunately the rest of the book makes up for it! Discworld books are the only books that can really make me laugh out loud.